Score-board.



No. 827,785. PATENTED AUG. 7, 1906.

T. E. CAREY.

SCORE BOARD.

APPLICATION TILED 1120.9. 1905.

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T. E. CAREY.

SCORE BOARD.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 9, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WWW FIR?- I TTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SCORE-BOARD.

Specification of Letters'Patent.

Patented Aug. '7, 1906.

Application filed December SJ, 1905. Serial No- 291,007.

To ctZZ whom, it nwty concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. CAREY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Score-Board, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for keeping the scores or records of games such as bowls, box-ball, and other games of a more or less similar nature, and comprises in general a suitable backing arranged and adapted to hold a pad of paper, a reticulated front to divide the outer or exposed sheet of the pad into columns of spaces of the desired shape and size, yielding hinge connections to so attach said front to said backing as to permit the former to accommodate itself to a pad of any practical thickness, means to confine such front at the end or side opposite such connections, .and a counter adapted to insure an accurate record of the number of sheets of paper used, all as hereinafter set forth.

The objects of my invention are, first, to provide a convenient, simple, efficient, and comp aratively inexpensive score-board which is adapted to be supplied with a plurality of sheets of paper, the device marking off each exposed sheet into the necessary spaces and thereby obviating the need of printing the paper; second, to afford means for utilizing plain or unprinted paper to effect a saving in expense, the cost of printing these scoresheets being considerable; third, to furnish a device which is adapted to hold the sheets evenly and compactly regardless of the number, permits them to be easily removed as used, and can be readily replenished whenever necessary or desirable; fourth, to provide a hinged connection which is capable of adapting itself to pads of various thicknesses or to a pad of varying thickness; fifth, to provide a fastening appliance which possesses like characteristics to such hinge connection, and, sixth, to provide registering mechanism operated by the opening and closing of the front for the score-sheets, with a suitable lock for such front to be employed in connection with such mechanism.

My invention is complete and can be used to advantage without the lock and counter, and either one of these devices may be employed without the other, so either or both of them may be omitted from the construction whenever desired. The score-sheets may be numbered by hand as used, or they may have numbers printed consecutively thereon before being placed on the board. When the lock is used, the other fastening device is not required.

I attain the objects hereinbefore mentioned and others by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of my scoreboard; Fig. 2, an edge elevation thereof; Fig. 3, an enlarged plan view of one of the hinge connections Fig. 4, an enlarged front elevation of the lower right-hand corner of the scorebo'ard, showing the application thereto of a lock and counter or register; Fig. 5, an under side elevation of said counter or register detached; Fig. 6, a rear elevation of the lock-casing which contains the key-operated mechanism, and Fig. 7 an edge view of the parts shown in Fig. 4, the front being unlocked and swung away from the backing and pad at the bottom. In this view a portion of one side of the lock-box is broken out to expose the serrated stud within.

Similar letters and figures refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, it will be observed that my device includes, essentially, a board or backing a, provided with pins 1) b, a reticulated front 0, attached at the top to said backing through the medium of springretracted hinges d d, and a spring-retracted button 6 or equivalent device for fastening and unfastening the bottom of said front to and from the backing. Of course the front 0 might be hinged and fastened at the sides instead of at the top and bottom, if desired.

The backing a may be made of wood or any other suitable material, and if made of wood can be strengthened with cleats Screweyes may be inserted in the upper cleat f to afford means for hanging or attaching the device to a wall or other support, one such screweye appearing at gin Fig. 2. An advertisingspace h is-provided on the face of the backing a at the top, below which is the space designed for paper out into sheets and preferably arranged in pad formation. i represents a plurality of sheets of paper or a pad placed in position on the backing and impaled on the pins 1), holes being made in the paper at the proper places to receive such pins. Each pin 1) has a reduced screw-threaded shank b, which extends through the backing and projects behind the same to receive a nut the latter and a washer k securely holding said pin in place.

The reticulated front which I use is designed to rest flatly against the paper on which the score is to be inscribed, the interstices in said front giving access to regular divisions on such paper outlined by the dividing wires or strips which extend up and down and. across the frame of said front and serve as guides to indicate the exact places where the various inscriptions are to be made. No projection should be present on or in connection with this front which would interfere with the freedom of a pen or pencil in writing upon the paper.

The front 0 is generally a light frame having a rectangular opening across which is a net or grating of wire or thin metallic strips, the interstices in such grating being so disposed as to furnish a series of oblong spaces A at the top, and columns of substantially square spaces B and (1 below. The spaces A are for the names of the players, the spaces B for the runs or points, and the spaces (1 for the totals, the arrangement being such that each player has a column of spaces for points and one for totals. The mesh may be changed however, so that the larger spaces for the names will be at the left, with. a series of smaller spaces following each large space for points, the right-hand spaces being employed for the totals, or any other required arrangement may be resorted to, since this matter is not of vital importance so far as this invention is coiucerned. The strips c, which separate the spaces A and each pair of columns B and (3 from the next pair may be (.lifl'erently colored from the rest of the front in order to more plainly set off the name of each player and his score and assist in guiding the eye to the particular column. sought.

One leaf of each hinge d is secured. to the upper strip or bar of the front 0, and the other leaf has two rods Z, which extend backward through the backing (0, their rear ends being screw-fhreaded to receive two nuts m. Vashers a, spiral springs 0, and a connectingbar 1) are placed on the rods Zbehind the backing a before the nuts in are screwed into place, said springs being interposed between said washers and said bar. Through the medium of the parts just described the front 0 can be swung up and down or opened and closed on the hinges (Z, and said front is always held tightly against the pad i regardless of the thickness thereof, the springs 0 retracting said hinges as the thickness of said. pad is decreased by the removal of the sheets which make up the same and yielding when the front and hinges are pulled outward for the purpose of placing more paper in position. More or less than two rods Z may be employed,- if one only, then no bar p is needed.

To draw the front a firmly against the backing (L or pad i, the fastening appliance described. in detail below is provided. Such appliance consists of a lug affixed to the back of the member a and depending below the same, a stud r extending forward from said lug and having a head 7", the button a loosely mounted on said stud, and a spiral spring .9 encircling the stud between its head and said button. In practice the front c is pressed down tightly against the pad t and the button 6 drawn forward against the resiliency of the spring 8 until it will clear said front, turned upward into a substantially vertical position, and then released, when said spring forces it hard against the front, thus retaining the latter securely in place with the sheets of paper held firmly and evenly without danger of displacement or injury. The spring 8 cooperates with the springs p in positioning the front and in accommodating it to different thicknesses of paper.

The manner of using the board is, briefly, as follows, it being thought that the operation will be quite fully understood from the foregoing: The board is provided with paper by opening the front and drawing it out ward against the resiliency of the springs p sufficiently to permit the pad t to be hung on the pinsf). Then said frontis released and locked with the button 0. Everything is ready now to commence the record on the first sheet, the names of the players and their scores being written in the spaces provided by the front c. After this sheet has been used the front .is unfastencd and opened, said sheet removed, and the front closed and refastened, thus exposing a clean sheet ready for another record, and so on until the pad becomes exhausted, when more paper must be supplied, as before. As fast as the thickness of the pad decreases the spring-retrace ed members draw the front nearer the backing until finally it is brought into actual contact therewith, as shown in Fig. 3. As a means for holding up the front 0 when open I may provide a support t, which is a rod pivotally attached at its lower end to one side edge of the backing a, as shown at t, and a finger at, extending laterally from said front and adapted to receive the free end of said support and rest thereon when the front is raised or swung open the proper distance,- the support being swung forward on its pivot for this purpose. The front may be closed upon disengaging the support If and the finger u and swinging said support out of the way of said. finger.

\Vhen a lock is required, the form shown in Figs. 4, 6, and. 7 has been found to be serviceable. This lock comprises a casing 10 for the lock mechanism and a box 1], adapted to receive such casing in part. The front plate 10 of the casing 10 extends beyond. the upper edge of said casing and. is securely fastened to the lower edge of the frame 0, and the back side or plate ll of the box 11 extends behind the backing a, to which it is securely fastened, both the casing and the box being therefore supported below the lower edges of the frame and backing, respectively. There is an opening 12 through the casing 10 and plate 10 and a keyhole 13 in the latter. The lock-bolt 14 extends part way across the opening 12 and can be withdrawn from said opening only by means of a key 15. A stud 16 projects forward from the back plate 11 of the box 11, and such stud has serrations or notches 16 in one side thereof to receive the lock-bolt 14 when the casing 10 is pressed into said box, the stud then entering the opening 12. By this arrangement the lock accommodates itself to the varying thickness of the pad 'i, and it is necessary to procure the key 15 before the frame 0 can be opened to remove a score-sheet. In order to avoid improper manipulation of the counter described below, the look when used therewith should be located near enough to such counter to prevent any one from forcing up the adjacent corner of the front far enough to operate the counter.

Since it is necessary after the front 0 is closed to open the same in order to remove a score-sheet, any register dependent for action upon the opening of said front must necessarily indicate the number of such sheet or the number of sheets used. In the present case a cyclometer 17 is employed, such device being attached to a plate 18, fastened to the back of the member a, and projecting beyond the right-hand edge thereof at the corresponding lower corner. An operating-arm 19, provided with a pin 20, extending toward the backing, is mounted tight on the cyclometer-stem 21. The outward or forward throw of the arm 19 is limited by a post 22, set in the plate 18, and having a shoulder 22 to receive the free terminal of such arm. The arm 19 is manipulated through the medium of an angular notched operating-finger 23,'one branch of which is rigidly secured to the right-hand lower corner of the front 0, and the other branch of which is provided with a hook 23 and a shoulder 23 The free branch or terminal of the finger 23 extends rearward and is adapted to engage and disengage the pin 20 on the arm 19. An opening 18 in the plate 18 permits the hooked terminal of the finger 23 to .pass through said plate.

The operation of the above-described registering mechanism is as follows: When the front 0 is closed, the operating part of the attached finger 23 engages the pin 20 and rocks the arm 19 rearward, this work being done by the shoulder 23 after the hook 2S has passed by said pin. The pin 20 now lies in the path of the hook 233, which is in the opening 18. The partial rotation just imparted to the stem 21 by the arm 19 has not disturbed the cyclometer indicator-disks, but has caused the disk=operating mechanism to become readjusted, so that a partial rotation of said stem in the opposite direction will bring about the registration of the next higher number. Now when the front is opened the finger 23 is moved forward and its hook 23 catches the pin 20 and rocks the arm 19 forward, thereby causing the cyclometer 17 to register a new number. The hook 23 clears the pin 20 after the re-registration takes place and can therefore return to its rearward position upon the closing of the front without disturbing said pin, as already noted. The shoulder 22' on the post 22 prevents the arm 19 from being thrown over backward by the forward sweep of the hook and insures its being left by said hook in the path of the shoulder 23 on the return of the finger. The amount of movement of the arm 19 necessary to operate the cyclometer is so comparatively slight that no difficulty is experienced in successfully manipulating the same with the mechanism therein shown and described in spite of the variation in stroke of the operating-finger incident to the varying thickness of the paper pad. For the purpose of locating the counter-operating mechanism as near the front 0 as practicable the backing a is cut away at a, Figs. 4 and 7.

It is obvious that my board may be used in a horizontal or substantially horizontal position, as well as to be suspended or supported in a vertical or approximately vertical position.

The lock and cyclometer herein shown are of old and well-known construction, and I do not claim either by itself, but do claim the new combinations of which they form parts.

I seek to include within the range of my invention all such changes in shape and size and alterations in construction and arrangement as justly fall within the scope of my claims.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in a score-board, with a substantially flat backing of inflexible ma terial for paper, of network and a frame therefor forming a reticulated front, and means of connection between such frame and backing, which is adapted to accommodate itself to whatever thickness of paper may be on said backing.

2. The combination, in a score-board, with a substantially flat backing of inflexible material for paper, of network and a frame therefor forming a reticulated front, and yielding hinge connections between the latter and said backing.

3. The combination, in a score-board, with a suitable backing provided with impaling means for paper, such means being a permanent part of the device, of a movable reticulated front attached to said backing.

4. The combination, in a score-board, with a substantially flat backing of inflexible material for paper, of network and a frame therefor forming a reticulated front, means to accommodate such front to whatever thickness of paper may be on said backing, and fastening means, for such front, also adapted to accommodate itself to the thickness of such paper.

5. The combination, in a score-board, with a suitable backing for paper, of a reticulated front hinged to said backing, and rotatable yielding fastening means for said front.

6. The combination, in a score-board, with a suitable backing for paper, of a reticulated front, yielding hinge connections between the latter and said backing, and rotatable yielding fastening means for said front.

7. The combination, in a score-board, with a substantially flat backing of inflexible material for paper, of network and a frame.

therefor forming'a reticulated front, and a spring-retractml hinge for connecting such front with said backing.

S. The combination, in a score-board, with a suitable backing for paper, said backing being provided with a stud, of a reticulated.

front hinged to the backing, and a rotatable spring-retracted button mounted on said. stud and adapted to fasten and unfasten said front.

9. The combination, in a score-board, with asuitable backing for paper, said backing being provided with a stud, of a reticulated front, a spring-retracted hinge for connecting such front with the backing, and a rotatable spring-retracted button mounted. on said 1stud and adapted to fasten and unfasten said rent.

10. The combination, in a score-board with a suitable backing and front, of a hinge having one leaf secured to said front and the other provided with a permanently affixed guide member reciprocally mounted in said i i backing, a spring arranged on said member behind the backing to normally retract said l hinge, and a nut on the guide member back of said spring and independent thereof.

1 1.. The combination, in a score-board, with a suitable backing and front, the latter being hinged to the former, of a stud carried by said backing, button mounted. to slide and rotate on said. stud, and a spring arranged on the stud to normally retract said button.

12. The combination, in a scoreboard ,with a suitable backing of inflexible material, for paper, said backing having a substantially flat face provided with advertising-space, of network and a frame therefor forming a reticulated front, and means of connection between such front and backing, which is adapted to accon'imodate itself to whatever thickness of paper may be on said backing.

13. A reticulated front, for a score-board, I

comprising a network and a frame therefor, such network consisting in part of a member or men'ibers distinguishable to the eye from another member 01' members by reason of some special or peculiar characteristic.

14. The combination, in a score-board, with a suitable backing for paper, of a reticulated front, yielding hinge connections between the latter and said backing, and means of support for the front when open.

15. The combii'iation, in a score-board, with a substantially flat backing of flexible material for paper, and network and a frame therefor forming a reticulated front, for such backing adapted to accoinn'iodate itself to whatever thickness of paper may be on said backing, of a key-operated lock, for such front, also adapted to accommodate itself to the varying thickness of such paper.

16. The combination, in a score-board, with a substantially flat backing of inllexi ble material for paper, and network and a frame therefor forming a reticulated front for said backing, of a counter or register, and means for operating such. counter or register each time said front is opened.

17. The combination, in a score-board, of a substantially flat backing of inflexible material, for paper, provided with a counter or register, and a network and a frame therefor forn'iing a reticulated front, for such backing, adapted to accommodate itself to whatever thickness of paper may be on the backing, said front bei ng provided with a finger adapted to operate said counter or register each time the front is opened.

18. The combination, in a score-board, of a sui table backing, for paper, provided with a lock-stud and with a counter or register, a reticulated. front, for such backing, provided with a lock adapted to engage said stud and with a finger adapted to operate said counter or register each time the front is opened.

19. The combination, in a score-board, of a suitable backing, for paper, provided with a lock-stud. and with. a counter or register, a reticulated front, for such backing, adapted to accommodate itself to whatever thickness of paper may be on the backing, said front being provided with a lock adapted to engage said stud and with a finger adapted to operate said counter or register each time the front is opened, said locking and counter or register operating means being also adapted to accommodate themselves to the varying thick ness of such paper.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS E. CAREY. l/Vitnesses:

ALLEN VVEBSTER, F. A. CUTTER. 

